In a surprising turn of events on election night, Fox News made a bold call that President Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump in Arizona, a decision that was met with cheers from the Trump faithful. This marked a stark difference from the network’s 2020 call that had caused internal turmoil and led to a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. The 2020 call had set off conspiracy theories and internal second-guessing at Fox News, costing the network millions in settlements. However, this year’s call on Arizona was met with much approval from viewers.
Fox News was not the first network to call the election, with NewsNation, Newsmax, and Scripps Networks leading the way. NewsNation made its call at 1:22 a.m. using data from Decision Desk HQ, just a minute before Scripps and Newsmax made the same declaration. Despite Bret Baier initially saying “we’re not there yet,” Fox ultimately made the call at 1:47 a.m. The AP followed suit at 5:34 a.m., with other major networks making their calls shortly after. NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt, who was let go from Fox News in 2020 following the Arizona call, found irony in his network’s early call this year and saw it as a personal vindication.
Fox News maintained its influence and dominance in the conservative media ecosystem, beating out its rivals in ratings for election night coverage. With 9.7 million viewers during prime-time hours, Fox was well ahead of ABC News, which had 5.7 million viewers. Newsmax, Fox’s chief rival for conservative viewers, had 947,000 viewers, while NewsNation had 237,000. Despite his complicated relationship with the network, Trump remained a significant presence on Fox News during the campaign, showcasing the network’s continued influence in conservative circles.
The 2020 election night marked a significant moment for Fox News, with its early call on Arizona leading to both backlash and praise. Decision Desk HQ and NewsNation’s decision to let the numbers speak for themselves in making the call early proved to be a successful strategy. Fox News, led by Arnon Mishkin, rejects claims of political motivation in its calls and continues to be a respected source in the industry. The network’s CEO Suzanne Scott expressed pride in the team’s reporting and analysis, which led to high ratings on election night.
As the dust settles on the 2020 election night, the continued influence of Fox News in shaping political narratives and reaching a diverse audience is evident. The network’s ability to draw in millions of viewers during prime-time hours solidifies its position as a leader in the media landscape. Despite facing criticism and backlash at times, Fox News remains a powerful force in conservative media, exemplified by its coverage and influence on election nights. With the 2024 election on the horizon, all eyes will be on Fox News and its role in shaping the political discourse in the years to come.
